From the Back of the Room

From the Back of the Room looks at the contemporary American punk scene from an exclusively female perspective. Director Amy Oden travels across the country, speaking with women who've joined or formed groups, like Tribe 8, Blatz, and 2 Minute Tantrum. Some of the subjects prefer to make music with other women, while others don't have a preference. Several cite the riot grrrl movement as an inspiration, and Oden interviews Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill and Allison Wolfe of Bratmobile, as well as roadies, promoters, disc jockeys, club managers, and graphic artists. Old and new concert footage brings the high-energy music to life, while hand-drawn fanzines, posters, and record covers emphasize the D.I.Y. nature of the acts. Although Oden divides the film into chapters—like "Making Space" and "Motherhood"—the format is more free-form as speakers relate their experiences both as feminists and musicians. Oddly, the documentary makes no mention of punk pioneers, such as Patti Smith or Penelope Houston (still on the road with the Avengers), a bit of a disappointment since even a quick overview of 1970s punk would have added greater historical context to this somewhat scattershot documentary. A strong optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)